After a summer of far more misses than hits in 2024, West Ham United know they have little room for failure as they look to avoid an unwelcome relegation battle in the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Especially with funds at a premium. Expensive missteps – with reinforcements required at full-back, at centre-forward, in goal and in the middle of the park – would be unwelcome, to say the least.
In previous summers, when West Ham United had more money to play with, Martin Baturina may have been a player worth taking a chance upon.
Instead, the Hammers turned down the Dinamo Zagreb playmaker amid concerns over his physicality and his suitability for Premier League football. Claret and Hugh report that Graham Potter wants a more athletic profile to strengthen a midfield in dire need of a revamp.
West Ham were allegedly ‘close’ to securing Baturina’s signature before pulling the plug.
Now, after criticisms over his performances emerged last week over in his native Croatia, this decision suddenly feels like a sound one.
Martin Baturina could miss out on West Ham United and Serie A transfers
Croatian publication Telesport explain that, despite Baturina’s ‘impeccable technique’, there are simply too many weaknesses in his game, especially with regards to his defensive output.
“In some matches, he looked disinterested,” they write. “And [he] did not give the impression of a player who is truly giving his best.”
And, in another unwelcome twist, Martin Baturina may be about to see another potential transfer slip through his grasp.
Fabrizio Romano reported over the weekend that, after Como succeeded in keeping head coach Cesc Fabregas out of the clutches of Inter Milan, the ambitious Serie A outfit were closing in on a deal to make the £21 million-rated Baturina their new record signing.
But, according to new claims provided by the ever-reliable Gianluca di Marzio, those discussions are suddenly at risk of collapsing quicker than Gillian McKeith in a Bushtucker Trial.
Di Marzio reports that there is a considerable difference between the fee Como are offering and the fee Dinamo Zagreb want. Como initially submitted an offer of £10 million, rising to £15 million, while Baturina’s current employers are holding out for in excess of £20 million.
‘New Luka Modric’ has come in for criticism at Dinamo Zagreb
Often labelled the ‘new Luka Modric’ due to his defence-splitting talents and his fierce ball-striking from outside the penalty area, Baturina scored six goals and set up 12 more for Dinamo Zagreb during the 2024/25 campaign.
He netted the opener, meanwhile, as Dinamo stunned AC Milan in the final matchday of the Champions League’s revamped opening phase. Thus, denying the Rossoneri a spot in the knockout stages.
But, with West Ham’s midfield already worryingly short of running power, Baturina’s undoubted qualities in possession are clearly not enough to offset the concerns over his weaknesses off the ball.
“Dinamo’s midfielder has long been under fire,” Telesport explain. “The impression is that he has not made any progress in his performances.
“He is still great at playmaking and has impeccable technique, but he has not yet worked on his weaknesses. The most notable of these is his defensive play, which is far below satisfactory, and this was most evident under [Italy legend and former Dinamo Zagreb boss] Fabio Cannavaro.
“The Italian insisted on high pressing. A demand that Baturina did not meet. His running without the ball is quite poor, and the same applies to his positioning in the defensive phase. To make matters worse, in some matches he looked disinterested and did not give the impression of a player who is truly giving his best.
Therefore, the criticisms against Baturina are justified.”
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